Billboard Music Awards 2013: Taylor Swift dominates

TAYLOR Swift has dominated the 2013 Billboard Music Awards by winning a total of eight trophies.

The singer was crowned artist of the year, the night’s top honour, as well as top female artist and top Billboard 200 artist.

She was also named top country artist and top digital songs artist.

Her 3.7 million-selling album Red came tops in the Billboard 200 and country albums categories, while her single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together was named top country song.

Commenting upon winning artist of the year, Swift said: “Thank you for making my music the soundtrack to your crazy emotions. You are the longest and best relationship I’ve had.”

Other multiple award winners included Gotye, who song Somebody That I Used to Know won in the categories of Hot 100 song, rock song, radio song and streaming song (audio). The track, featuring Kimbra, has sold 7.3 million downloads.

Rihanna also won four awards – the R&B artist, album and song categories, plus radio songs artist.

While Madonna, Nicki Minaj and One Direction won three awards each and Justin Bieber, the late Jenni Rivera, Baauer and tobyMac secured two honours apiece.

Prince, who performed a medley of his classic Let’s Go Crazy, Edgar Winter’s instrumental Frankenstein and Fix Ur Life Up, was given the Icon Award for a career that includes 10 platinum albums and 30 top 40 singles.

The Billboard awards were held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where awards were handed out in 45 categories.